Matt Rees's Blog - Posts Tagged "podcast"

My latest podcast is the first of a three-part series on how to write your book. This episode is about research.

In my latest podcast I use my experience as an award-winning writer of nonfiction, crime fiction, and historical thrillers to show how to structure your book and, in the case of fiction, how to lay out your plot. This is the second of three episodes titled How to Write a Book. The next episode will cover writing and editing the book.

My latest podcast describes the challenges of researching and writing about the great Italian artist Caravaggio for my novel A NAME IN BLOOD. I deliberately took my research too far, not only learning to fence with a rapier and to paint with oils, but dying my beard and cutting my hair in Caravaggio’s style and using New Age spiritual techniques to connect with the energy of Caravaggio. I did all this because I wanted to be sure I could accurately portray the real Caravaggio, not the “gay psycho bitch” as whom he’s usually portrayed. Here’s how I found the real Caravaggio.

As an introduction to my Caravaggio novel A NAME IN BLOOD, here's a short story about an incident in the artist's life that was very striking to me, but which didn't fit with the narrative of the novel. In "Lazarus's Brush" Caravaggio flees the men who seek to kill him and arrives in Sicily. He's commissioned to paint the raising of Lazarus. The result teaches him about his fears of the violence that stalks him -- but more than that it represents a profound change in his artistic technique, inspiring him as an artist in the face of desperate circumstances.

Download the Podcast: (Download the MP3)
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My latest podcast is about my new alternative news project DeltaFourth. I read from THE MURDER OF YASSER ARAFAT, the first explosive ebook from DeltaFourth. The ebook reveals how Yasser Arafat was murdered by people in his inner circle. It's the prototype for DeltaFourth's forthcoming series of long-form journalistic ebooks -- stunning breaking news written in a hard-boiled novelistic style that responds to the excitement of the events it describes.

Download the Podcast: (Download the MP3)
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I use yoga and meditation to prepare myself for the mental and physical challenge of writing. I introduce this podcast by talking about the importance of yoga and how it helps to open a writer's creativity, and to prevent fatigue from sitting for long periods. I describe several stretching techniques you can do throughout your writing day. Then I talk you through a 20 minute yoga practice sequence for you to follow along with the exercises. The postures should leave you feeling energized and creative -- ready to write!

Download the Podcast: (Download the MP3)
Subscribe via iTunes